New York

Overview

If you can make it here, you won't need to make it anywhere else. Start ticking some of the world's most iconic destinations off your bucket list.

At the mouth of the Hudson River, New York City is made up of five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Each one has enough attractions and enough personality to be a city all its own.

Empire State Building - The Heartbeat of NYCFrom our world-famous tower lights to our breathtaking views, the Empire State Building has served as the heart and soul of the world's most recognizable skyline for over 83 years.

Where to go

You'll never be far from the action in the city that never sleeps. Explore the different neighbourhoods to tailor a trip that suits you.

Central Park

Location of a million movie scenes, this oasis in the middle of Manhattan has over 800 acres of lush green parklands, duck filled ponds, beautiful historic trees and year round entertainment.

Give yourself a gentle introduction to the city by exploring its beloved natural gem Central Park. Although it may not exactly be free of tourists, there are ways to avoid the herds. Designed by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, Central Park is home to 843 acres of verdant views, vibrant flora and hidden histories. The best way to see it all? By bicycle. For an early morning jaunt, head to the park any time after 6am. You can rent a bike for two hours and go solo or book an expedition through Central Park Bike Tours.

Paddle rowboats in summer, ice skate in winter, go for a magical stroll through autumn leaves or pass the world by in Spring on horse and carriage. Central Park has a lot to offer all year round.

Park Avenue

If you want to be in one of the coolest neighbourhoods next to the best shopping, restaurants, bars and all of the subway lines then this is the place.

Brooklyn

At the western tip of Long Island, this borough features a distinctive urban architecture of leafy streets and beautiful brownstone row houses.

Get out of the big smoke for a walk around Sheep Meadow, Great Lawn or Prospect Lake Park, pop down to the quirky amusement park Coney Island or step out in style in hipster Williamsburg. There's plenty to eat and drink, from the organic locally-grown artisanal craft beers and rooftop honey to the wide range of international restaurants.

Williamsburg is one of Brooklyn's most popular and exciting neighbourhoods. It straddles old and new.

Meatpacking District and surrounds

Meatpacking District

Once a sleazy waterfront industrial district, the Meatpacking District recently gentrified to become one of New York’s most fashionable neighbourhoods. Uber hip restaurants, high end boutiques, roof top bars and exclusive clubs now combine to make this an essential destination on your nightly wanderings around New York. Eclectic Soho hums with activity day and night and is a must see with its cutting edge shops, street stands, high end fashion stores, galleries and beautiful loft architecture.

Upper West Side

Explore New York’s deep and layered cultural landscape in this upmarket residential area just above Columbus Circle and skirting Central Park. Streets lined with classic New York brownstones combine with cultural icons like the Lincoln Centre and American Museum of Natural History, as well as classic Jewish restaurants like Jacob's Pickles, to create a quintessential New York experience.

Greenwich Village

It's easy to lose yourself in the bohemian row house streets of this little slice of New York, which plenty of celebrities have made their home. Stroll down to Little Italy, visit a jazz club on Bleecker Street, take in a show at the Cherry Lane theatre and dine at any one of the super trendy restaurants and wine bars on every corner.

Chelsea

The centre of New York’s art scene, Chelsea has more than 350 galleries that encompass everything from modern art, up-coming and established artists to the Rubin Museum of Art and The Chelsea Art Museum. Visit the famous Chelsea markets for fine food and wine and the Chelsea Piers for sport and entertainment.

Harlem

No-go zone no longer, Harlem is now a stop on any music lover’s itinerary. With jazz, Afro-Cuban, hip hop and the not-to-be-missed Sunday morning gospel tour, there’s plenty to keep you rocking on your trip to New York.

The Bronx

Part of the mainland, this borough is home of rap and hip-hop along with the Yankee Stadium (where you can tour or see a home team match), the Bronx Zoo (the largest metropolitan zoo in the world), and Co-op City.

Quick facts

Currency

US Dollar (US$)

Electricity

110V / 60 Hz

Population

8,491,000

Seasons

Winter in New York City experiences highs around 10°C in November and 5°C in December until early April. Spring (April to June) usually means less humidity with temperatures between 10-25°C. Summer (July to August) is generally hot and humid with temperatures ranging from 21-35°C. Autumn (September to November) starts off hot and humid and ends a bit chilly with 21- 25°C weather for the most part.

Getting around

From the airport

Qantas customers on flights to New York from Australia will arrive at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport Terminal 7 (or 8 if you are on an American Airlines codeshare). Check your ticket for the most up to date information.

From the airport, there are plenty of transport options to get you into Manhattan - the AirTrain is a cheap and easy way although note that you have to transfer to the subway. If you are coming off a long flight, however, you might want to arrange a private arrival transfer.

In and around the city

Getting around New York is part of the experience. The subway is cheap, efficient and simple to navigate while New York’s iconic yellow cabs are also a good option and can be easily hailed on the street.

If you have limited time, you might want to consider a hop-on hop-off tour taking in the Statue of Liberty Ferry Ticket and Top of the Rock or Empire State Building, or our skip-the-line New York City Pass, which combines perfectly with the subway.

New York car hire

Book car hire with Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty. Qantas Frequent Flyer members could earn Qantas Points^ with Avis and Budget.